Africa · Kenya

What does it take to sell cosmetics in Kenya? Entry route, responsibility, labeling

Imports need a KEBS Certificate of Conformity under the PVoC programme (issued pre-shipme…; Responsible person: Non-Kenyan applicants must appoint a local representative (…; Labeling: English labelling per KS EAS 346 with INCI ingred….

Latest change 2026-02-19 — KEBS issued PVoC Manual Version 15 governing Certificates of Conformity for imports (including cosmetics); the KHPTA Bill covering cosmetics passed the National Assembly in Nov 2024 but has not been assented. Source

Factory-side digest; the official text prevails; not legal advice.

Authority: Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for standards and PVoC; Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) for registration of cosmetics as health products (to become KHPTA)
Main regulation: KS EAS 377-1:2013 et seq.; KS EAS 346; Legal Notice No. 100 of 2022 (commenced 2022-06-09) · Standards Act (Cap 496) with East African standards KS EAS 377 (ingredients) and KS EAS 346 (labelling); Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244) and the Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Health Products and Technologies) Rules 2022
In force: 2022-06-09
Market entry: Imports need a KEBS Certificate of Conformity under the PVoC programme (issued pre-shipment by appointed agents) and the KEBS standardisation/import mark, while PPB registration under LN 100/2022 applies to cosmetics defined as health products, especially those with therapeutic claims.
Responsible person: Non-Kenyan applicants must appoint a local representative (Kenyan citizen/resident or Kenyan-incorporated company) for PPB registration, and PVoC/import permits run through the Kenyan importer.
Safety file: INCI formula, toxicological safety assessment, microbiological and stability data, Certificate of Free Sale and GMP evidence for KEBS/PPB review, with heavy-metal testing increasingly expected.
Labeling: English labelling per KS EAS 346 with INCI ingredients, batch, expiry, full manufacturer address, warnings and the KEBS mark; Kiswahili optional.
Animal testing: No statutory ban identified.
Ingredient lists: KS EAS 377 parts (prohibited, restricted, colorants, preservatives, UV filters) referencing EU 1223/2009 Annex II/III, with a DEAS 377-1:2020 revision drafted.
Notes: Division of labour between KEBS and PPB for ordinary cosmetics is in flux (KHPTA Bill pending in the Senate as of 2026); in_force_since refers to the PPB rules while the KEBS standards regime is older.
Official text: https://www.kebs.org/pre-export-verification-of-conformity/

FAQ

Does Kenya require notification or registration before sale?

Imports need a KEBS Certificate of Conformity under the PVoC programme (issued pre-shipment by appointed agents) and the KEBS standardisation/import mark, while PPB registration under LN 100/2022 applies to cosmetics defined as health products, especially those with therapeutic claims.

Is a local responsible person mandatory in Kenya?

Non-Kenyan applicants must appoint a local representative (Kenyan citizen/resident or Kenyan-incorporated company) for PPB registration, and PVoC/import permits run through the Kenyan importer.

What are the labeling requirements in Kenya?

English labelling per KS EAS 346 with INCI ingredients, batch, expiry, full manufacturer address, warnings and the KEBS mark; Kiswahili optional.

What changed recently in Kenya cosmetic regulation?

2026-02-19 KEBS issued PVoC Manual Version 15 governing Certificates of Conformity for imports (including cosmetics); the KHPTA Bill covering cosmetics passed the National Assembly in Nov 2024 but has not been assented.

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What does it take to sell cosmetics in Kenya? Entry route, responsibility, labeling

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